JP2004234254A - Ic card reader/writer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an IC card reader/writer that is connectable for use to a terminal such as a personal computer, easy to handle and connectable to another device as well. <P>SOLUTION: The IC card reader/writer 1 is so structured that a card holder 11 which has an ISO7816-standard-compliant terminal plate 14 and a USB socket 16 and into which an IC card is inserted, and a holder base 12 which has a USB socket and a USB cable can be used as the USB receiving socket and the USB receiving socket are fitted together. Owing to the structure, the IC card reader/writer can be used as an IC card reader/writer with the card holder 11 fitted in the holder base 12, and can also be used as an IC card reader/writer simply with the card holder and without the holder base. The card holder base further has an external device connecting USB receiving socket 21 and a USB hub device 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a reader / writer for an IC card.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a reader / writer for an IC card used for connection with a personal computer, and to a reader / writer which improves handling and operability on a desk.
Therefore, the field of use of the present invention relates to the field of use and manufacture of IC card reader / writers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
IC cards have been widely used in place of magnetic cards due to the convenience of carrying, the ability to record large amounts of information, and the difficulty of counterfeiting and falsification. In addition, the multi-application of the IC card has been attempted, and the IC card has also been used as an employee ID card, a shopping card, a point card, and the like.
As a result, Internet shopping and the like are being used by using the IC card with a terminal such as a personal computer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “PC”).
[0003]
On the other hand, a PC in a company or the like is networked and can access various types of information from a PC, which is one terminal, so that unauthorized use by unauthorized persons may lead to leakage of company secrets.
Against this background, IC cards have come to be used as effective means for authenticating personal computer access authority. For this reason, an IC card reader / writer is often connected to a PC and used for logon / personal authentication.
[0004]
PC IC card reader / writers are already known, and prior arts include Patent Literature 1, Patent Literature 2, Non-Patent Literature 1, and the like. Patent Document 1 proposes an IC memory card unit used for a desktop personal computer, but has a problem that a special file slot is required on the desktop side.
Patent Document 2 describes that a portable terminal equipped with a contact-type IC card reader / writer is connected to a PC for use, but does not mention handling on a desk.
Non-Patent Document 1 relates to an actual commercial product as described later.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1] JP-A-7-295682 [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2000-76395 [Non-Patent Document 1] Catalog of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. "IC card reader / writer (ZU90000P series)"
[0006]
FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing a conventional IC card reader / writer, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view thereof.
As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional IC card reader / writer 10 is one in which a card holder 11 into which an IC card is inserted and a holder base 12 are integrally formed. As shown in FIG. 9, the contact terminal plate of the IC card inserted from the card insertion slot 13 is brought into contact with an ISO-compliant terminal plate (8-pin connector) 14 on the card holder 11 side. The terminal board 14 is further connected to a PC by a USB cable 18 with a USB connector 19.
The IC card reader / writer 10 has a built-in USB interface, and power can be acquired from a PC via a USB cable 18.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, a conventional IC card reader / writer has a problem that a card holder and a holder pedestal are integrated, and when used on a desk, a large installation space is required, which hinders operation.
Furthermore, since the IC card reader / writer does not have a receiving socket for connecting another device, there is a problem that data of an external device cannot be used.
The inventor of the present application has researched that the card holder and the holder pedestal can be used separately and that other terminal devices can be connected to a PC via a reader / writer for an IC card. The invention has been completed.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The gist of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problem is that a card holder having a terminal plate and a USB socket conforming to the ISO7816 standard and for inserting an IC card, and a card holder pedestal having a USB receiving socket and a USB cable are formed of a USB. The socket and the USB receiver socket have a structure that can be used by fitting them. With this structure, the card holder can be used as an IC card reader / writer in a state fitted to the card holder pedestal, and without using the card holder pedestal. An IC card reader / writer that can be used as an IC card reader / writer by itself, wherein the card holder base further includes a USB receiving socket for connecting an external device and a USB hub device. Reader / writer.
[0009]
In the above IC card reader / writer, a plurality of external device connection USB receiving sockets can be provided. If a projecting member is provided at the USB socket mounting portion of the card holder, the USB socket connection of the card holder can be strengthened. If the card holder is provided with a convex member for identifying the front and back, and the holder pedestal is provided with a concave groove into which the convex member is inserted, the front and back are not mistaken.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a reader / writer for an IC card according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a perspective view showing a reader / writer for an IC card according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a card holder (A) and a card holder base (B) of the reader / writer for an IC card, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the card holder, and FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 show other embodiments of the card holder and the holder base. FIG.
[0011]
The IC card reader / writer 1 of the present invention is used by fitting the card holder 11 into the holder base 12 as shown in FIG. The card holder 11 inserts the IC card in the vertical direction (inserts the narrow side). A card insertion slot 13, a terminal plate (connector portion) 14 in contact with a terminal plate of the IC card in the holder, and a USB interface And the like.
Although not shown, a pressing mechanism such as a leaf spring is also provided in the card holder in order to ensure good contact between the contact terminal plate of the IC card and the card holder side terminal plate 14.
[0012]
The card holder 11 further has a USB socket 16 electrically connected to the circuit board 15 and protruding from the bottom surface of the card holder.
The position of the USB socket 16 is preferably at the center lower surface of the card holder 11 because the force is uniformly applied when the USB socket 16 is inserted into the USB receiving socket of the terminal, but is not limited thereto.
The card holder pedestal 12 has a receiving hole (insertion fitting portion) into which the lower surface of the card holder 11 can be fitted and a USB receiving socket 16 into which the USB socket 16 can be fitted, and an electrical connection is made between the two.
[0013]
The present invention is characterized in that the card holder pedestal 12 further includes a USB receiving socket 21 for connecting an external device and a USB hub device 22.
The USB hub device 22 can be called a concentrator having a switching function, and has a function of appropriately selecting signals from the USB receiving socket 17 and the external device connecting USB receiving socket 21 and transmitting the signals to the PC.
The USB can connect up to 127 devices in a tree format to one host controller (PC) via up to six branches of hubs (hubs to concentrators). Because of the tree type, for example, the signal received by the USB receiving socket 21 goes directly to the PC here. The signal from the USB socket 17 also goes directly to the PC.
[0014]
The USB hub device 22 may be connected to three to four devices, and a large-scale USB hub device is not required. An apparatus that can be used in the reader / writer for an IC card of the present invention is about 10 mm × 10 mm × 3 mm (for example, “Hub Controller Chip μPD72012” manufactured by NEC Corporation) is commercially available and can be used.
1 and the following figures, an example is shown in which only one external device connection USB receiving socket 21 is provided in the IC card reader / writer 1, but a plurality of USB receiving sockets may be provided.
[0015]
The card holder 11 shown in FIG. 2A has a structure in which the IC card 2 can be inserted in the vertical direction, and has a terminal board 14 and a circuit board 15 which are in contact with the contact terminal board of the IC card 2 inside. The terminal plate 14 has eight pins conforming to the ISO standard. The circuit board 15 includes a USB conversion IC as necessary, and further has an ISO connector circuit connected to the USB socket 16.
[0016]
The IC card can be inserted in either the vertical direction or the horizontal direction as long as the terminal plate of the IC card 2 and the terminal plate of the card holder 11 can be contacted. The area can be reduced.
The length L of the card holder 11 can be approximately 56 to 70 mm, and the height H is suitably approximately 30 to 35 mm, but is not particularly limited. If the IC card 2 is inserted from the terminal board side and inserted into the insertion opening 13 to this depth, the contact terminal board of the IC card 2 reaches a depth where the contact terminal board of the IC card 2 can sufficiently contact the holder-side terminal board 14.
[0017]
When the card holder 11 is fitted into the holder pedestal 12 of FIG. 2B and used integrally, the card holder 11 is inserted into the receptacle 8 of the holder pedestal 12, and the USB socket 16 is further connected to the USB receptacle of the holder pedestal 12. It is used by fitting it into the socket 17. Thereby, the signal of the IC card 2 is transmitted to the PC via the USB hub device 22 and the USB cable 18.
[0018]
Since the IC card reader / writer 1 includes the external device connection USB receiving socket 21, it is possible to use the IC card 2 in combination with another device.
For example, when referring to the fingerprint of the person at the time of the personal authentication, a fingerprint sensor is connected to the USB socket 21 to read the fingerprint of the person, and the fingerprint data of the person is transferred to the PC via the USB hub device 22. Can be sent to
When fingerprint data of a person having access authority is stored in the IC card, the IC card compares the stored data with the read data, and if the person is authorized, the access may be permitted. With such a use method, a high degree of personal authentication can be performed.
[0019]
Alternatively, by connecting to a memory storage device, excess data that cannot be stored in the IC card 2 can be stored in the memory storage device. Only when the IC card 2 is inserted into the IC card reader / writer 1, it is possible to control the memory storage device to be accessible.
When the IC card reader / writer 1 is connected to the USB receiving socket of the PC by such a usage method, even if the receiving socket of the PC cannot be used for another device, the USB for connecting an external device of the holder base 12 can be used. There is an advantage that the receiving socket 21 can be used to connect to another device.
[0020]
In FIG. 2B, the depth h1 of the receptacle 8 of the holder base is about 10 to 20 mm, and the distance h2 between the receptacle 8 and the upper surface of the external device connection USB receiving socket 21 is about 5 to 10 mm. The height (width) h3 of the base 21 is about 8 to 10 mm, the height h4 of the lower surface of the receiving socket 21 from the base of the base is about 10 to 15 mm, and the height of the base 12 is about 35 to 50 mm. .
[0021]
The card holder 11 can be used alone as an IC card reader / writer by inserting the USB socket 16 into a receiving socket of a PC.
When reading the IC card 2 with the card holder alone, as shown in FIG. 3, the USB socket 16 of the card holder 11 is directly inserted into the USB receiving socket 41 of the personal computer 4 for use. In this case, there is an advantage that the external shape of the card holder 11 is small and no cable is required, so that the installation space can be minimized. The USB receiving socket 41 may be on the side of the PC.
Although the above describes use in a personal computer, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be similarly used in a digital camera and a portable terminal conforming to the USB standard and other various mobile environments.
[0022]
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the card holder 11, which is characterized in that a projecting member 9 is provided between the main body of the card holder 11 and the USB socket 16.
The height h5 of the overhang member 9 may be about several mm. The presence of the overhang member 9 can cope with a case where the USB socket on the terminal side is depressed.
Also, the strong connection can be maintained between the card holder 11 and the holder base 12 or when the card holder is directly mounted on a PC, so that the card holder 11 does not accidentally come off.
The holder base 12 and the PC are also provided with recesses into which the overhang members 9 are fitted.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the card holder and the holder pedestal, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the card holder, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the holder pedestal.
This embodiment is characterized in that a convex member 6 is provided on the side surface of the card holder 11, as shown in FIGS. Similarly, the holder base 12 is formed with a concave groove 7 into which the convex member 6 is inserted, as shown in FIG.
By adopting such a configuration, when the card holder 11 is used after being separated from the holder pedestal, when the card holder 11 is used again in combination, the card holder 11 is not reversed. Note that the shape of the convex member 6 is not limited, and the convex member 6 may have a cross section of an arc shape and protrude.
[0024]
On the side of the card holder, an arrow-shaped instruction mark 3 for indicating the insertion direction of the IC card may be provided as shown in FIG. 1, or a terminal board figure 5 may be displayed as shown in FIG. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the IC card from being inserted in the wrong direction, and to avoid worrying about the insertion direction.
[0025]
The card holder 11 and the holder pedestal 12 can be manufactured by injection molding polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, vinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, or the like, and incorporating necessary circuits, terminal boards, hub devices, and USB receiving sockets. it can.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, since the IC card reader / writer of the present invention has the USB socket for external device connection and the hub device, it is possible to connect the external device, for example, the fingerprint authentication device to match the fingerprint authentication of the person. Advanced usage methods such as authenticating the user can be adopted.
Further, since the card holder and the holder pedestal are structured so as to be divided, the card holder can be directly connected to a terminal such as a PC, and can be used alone.
Therefore, there is an advantage that it can be used even when there is no space on the desk. Furthermore, it can be used in various mobile environments other than a PC by carrying only the card holder.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a reader / writer for an IC card according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing a card holder and a card holder pedestal of a reader / writer for an IC card.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which an IC card is read by a card holder alone.
FIG. 4 is a view showing another embodiment of a card holder.
FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of a card holder and a holder base.
FIG. 6 is a view showing another embodiment of the card holder.
FIG. 7 is a view showing another embodiment of the holder base.
FIG. 8 is an external perspective view showing a conventional IC card reader / writer.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the same.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 IC card reader / writer 2 IC card 3 Instruction mark 4 Personal computer 5 Terminal board figure 6 Convex member 7 Depression groove 8 Receptacle 9 Overhang member 10 Conventional IC card reader / writer 11 Card holder 12 Holder pedestal 13 Card insertion port 14 Terminal board 15 Circuit board 16 USB socket 17 USB receiving socket 18 USB cable 19 USB connector 21 USB receiving socket 22 for external device connection USB hub device

Claims (4)

A card holder having a terminal board and a USB socket conforming to the ISO7816 standard and having an IC card inserted therein, and a card holder pedestal having a USB receiving socket and a USB cable can be used by fitting between the USB socket and the USB receiving socket. With this structure, the card holder can be used as an IC card reader / writer in a state where the card holder is fitted to the card holder pedestal. In addition, the card holder alone can be used as an IC card reader / writer without using the card holder pedestal. A reader / writer for an IC card, wherein the card holder base further includes a USB receiving socket for connecting an external device and a USB hub device. 2. The IC card reader / writer according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of external device connection USB receiving sockets. 2. The reader / writer for an IC card according to claim 1, wherein a projecting member is provided at a USB socket mounting portion of the card holder. 2. The reader / writer for an IC card according to claim 1, wherein a convex member for front / back identification is provided on the card holder, and a concave groove into which the convex member is inserted is provided on the holder pedestal.

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